Weโre officially in the thick of November. How? Iโm not sure. This year seems to be flying by. I guess thatโs what happens when youโre a full-time working mom and wife ๐ Anyway, as I look forward to the day we have to set aside thanks, Iโm also struggling with how easy it is to get wrapped up in Thanksgiving that we sometimes forget the actual reason for it.
I mean surely, Iโm not the only one whoโs ever spent too much time on Thanksgiving planning out a Black Friday shopping list? Sometimes we canโt stop thinking about what we need or want long enough to give thanks for what we already have.
But does that even matter?
Why is Thanksgiving Important?
Thanksgiving is more than just one day in November we set aside for turkey and cranberry sauce. Itโs more than a gathering of family members and/or friends. And itโs so much more than an opportunity to buy discount electronics and clothes.
Thanksgiving is a way of life.
Or at least it should be.
Because does it really matter if youโre thankful on the 4th Thursday of November, if youโre not thankful on the other 364 days of the year? We were never commanded to give thanks, eat turkey, then go on our way and ignore the goodness of God.
Giving Thanks is Godโs will for you
โRejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Godโs will for you in Christ Jesus.โ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Let that sink into your soul. Godโs will for you is to give thanks in all circumstances. Not just on Thanksgiving, but every day and in every circumstance!
โSing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.โ Ephesians 5:19-20
One way weโre told to give thanks is through praise. In fact, in Psalm 100, weโre told to enter the gates of the Lord with Thanksgiving… itโs the way weโre supposed to come to Him. Not just with gratitude for what Heโs done, but for who He is.
Thatโs why 1 Chronicles 16:4 says, โGive thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.โ We always have a reason to be thankful because He is always good.
The promise of Philippians 4:6-7 says, โDo not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.โ Gratitude helps us focus our hearts on Him, and He is always enough.
This week, I encourage you to stop and give thanks. Not just because thereโs a holiday coming, but because God is good. All the time.
PIN ITBible verse source: Bible.com